When your car breaks down, the most important thing is staying calm and getting yourself to safety. Usual suspects for vehicle breakdowns are flat tires, an empty gas tank, a dead battery, or engine trouble. So, it’s always a good idea to be prepared and have a plan in place.
In this guide, you’ll learn practical steps to handle a vehicle breakdown and when to call roadside assistance for help.
What to do when your car breaks down: From first steps to assistance
When a car breaks down, minutes matter, and the calm, correct moves keep you safe. This section explains what to do if your car breaks down.
1) Immediate Safety Steps: The first few minutes
- Signal and slow down. Steer smoothly to the shoulder, an exit ramp, or an emergency bay. Try to aim for a straight, visible spot, especially if the car breaks down on a highway.
- Turn on the hazard lights to warn other cars. At night or in low visibility, keep the headlights on.
- Stay inside the vehicle if you are away from traffic with the seatbelts on. However, if you can’t move your vehicle out of the way of traffic or if you’re concerned about being rear-ended, then safely exit your vehicle. Only get out of our car if you are sure it’s safe.
- If you cannot stay calm, or the scope of repair is very serious or beyond you, then you should either call an emergency roadside assistance service or call 911.
2) Make Yourself Visible & Secure the Scene
- If your vehicle breaks down during nighttime or low visibility, it is important that your vehicle is visible to other drivers on the road. So, keep the hazard lights on continuously.
- Place reflective warning triangles or road flares in a staggered line to create a visual corridor that guides traffic away from your car. You should usually place them 50-100ft behind your vehicle (more if you are on a highway or a fast-moving road).
- Open your car’s hood safely. Opening the hood of the vehicle on the side of the road usually indicates a breakdown. Before you do that, touch the hood for heat. If it’s too hot, then do not open the hood. There might be hot steam underneath.
3) Run a quick and safe self-check
- Scan the dashboard: temperature, oil pressure, battery/charging, and tire-pressure lights can quickly indicate overheating, low oil, a dead battery, or a puncture.
- Use your senses: listen for hissing (coolant/steam), clunking (mechanical), or grinding (brakes); smell for sweet coolant, burning insulation, or fuel; look for fresh puddles.
- Walk a full circle (if safe) to spot a flat, shredded tire, dangling splash guards, or debris lodged underneath.
- If the engine overheats, do not open the radiator cap; wait for a full cool-down to avoid burns, and then seek vehicle breakdown assistance.
4) Call for Help: Who to Contact and What to Say
- Contact your provider’s roadside assistance service. If you don’t have one, then there are apps these days where you can quickly sign up and get 24/7 roadside assistance service with faster dispatch. (Check the iTOWu app)
- You have to share your location information with a GPS pin and other exact details like mile markers, notable landmarks, etc. Additionally, you have to provide details related to the incident and vehicle info (make, model, color, plate), plus context like kids, pets, or special access needs, so the roadside assistance service arrives prepared.
- In the iTOWu roadside assistance app, you can preload information about your car. Also, you can add more than one vehicle. So, during breakdowns, you have to answer incident-related queries to get connected to the nearest services and professionals.
- If your situation is unsafe or critical, call 911. If you feel unsafe, call 911. Always prioritize your safety.
5) DIY Fixes You Can Attempt (If Safe)
- Any attempt at repair during a breakdown should only be done if you have prior experience or knowledge.
- Serious tasks, such as battery jump start or a tire change, should only be done if you have done them before. If you’re unsure about tools, jack points, or cable order, skip DIY and contact roadside assistance to prevent injury or vehicle damage.
- Choose simple, low-risk tasks only. For a small tire puncture, some cars include sealant/inflator kits. Leave coolant or oil issues to pros—wrong moves can ruin the engine.
- Avoid any DIY at night or in poor visibility. Darkness, rain, or heavy traffic dramatically raises the risk. In these conditions, prioritize visibility (hazards, triangles) and request emergency roadside or towing assistance instead of working outside the vehicle.
- Special cases and safety limits. For EVs/hybrids, avoid handling high-voltage components entirely. They have a very high risk of fire. It is usually best to go to a safe spot and call your emergency roadside assistance service provider.
6) Wait safely for the help to arrive
- Share your live location and assistance provider ETA with a trusted contact.
- Periodically recheck visibility, confirm the hazards are on, and reposition the warning triangles if the traffic or weather pattern changes.
- Decline unsolicited repairs or rides and wait for your verified professional to arrive. When they do arrive, verify them first before accepting assistance.
What to expect when you have your car towed?
If you have your car towed, then the driver of the tow truck will secure your vehicle and transport it to an agreed-upon location. Usually, they’ll let you ride along with them so that you can stay with the car.
Typically, the location is an auto-repair or your dealership. If it is an auto-repair shop, you have to verify hours, diagnostic fees, and turnaround before authorizing work. Before authorizing any work, you should approve diagnostics first, then review the estimate (parts, labor, taxes, timeline). Request photos of failed parts and keep removed components when possible.
Save documents like receipts, invoices, and car photos. These documents help with warranties, insurance, or reimbursement from your emergency roadside towing plan.
Next, confirm when the repair will be completed and the transport options. If needed, ask about temporary roadside assistance coverage for a return tow or follow-up help.
Preventive Checklist (Reduce Future Breakdowns)
- Stay on maintenance. Follow service intervals for oil, coolant, belts, tires, and battery tests; many “sudden” failures start as small, preventable issues during routine checks.
- Prep your kit. Keep a spare (or sealant/inflator), jack, jumper pack, triangles, flashlight, gloves, water, and phone charger. These small items turn a crisis into a controlled stop.
- Digitally ready. Save your insurer/dealer number, download the provider app, and confirm you have 24/7 roadside assistance.
- Tires & battery first. Check tire pressures monthly and before trips; replace worn tires and aging batteries early. It is one of the most common triggers for car breakdown assistance calls.
Conclusion
You never know when your car breaks down, but you can control your response. Follow the steps mentioned in this article. You should always stay calm, keep your distance from traffic, and contact your emergency roadside service provider when DIY isn’t safe or familiar.
The fastest path back on the road is often professional help, especially at night, in bad weather, or on a busy shoulder. And to avoid repeated breakdowns, ensure regular maintenance of your vehicle. Special focus should be on your car tires and battery. A vehicle breakdown doesn’t need to derail your day.